The Secret Country of Yourself, by Jenya Beachy.
Discover the Powerful Magic of Your Endless Inner World.

Oh! Oh! Oh!  I feel like this book was written just for me!  For about 35 years now I have been spending time each week (sometimes every day) journeying inward in a realm I call my “Inner Sanctuary.”  There are many rooms to explore in this inner architecture that is my self, and much beautiful landscaping outside as well.  Up until now, I have never found another book with a similar experience, and I am just delighted to be diving into this masterpiece of inner exploration. The author is taking me deeper into my own inner world with her immense knowledge, background, and experience of journeying within. The activities and inner work that she suggests are organized into three sections: The Preparation, The Expedition, and Through the Gates of Magick.  This book is powerful medicine for anyone who wants to delve deeper into their own inner “secret country.” Highly recommend!

I promise to honor Christmas in my heart
and try to keep it all the year.

~ Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

This is my very favorite quote from one of my favorite stories of all time, A Christmas Carol.

Every year one of my holiday traditions is to see the North Shore Music Theatre musical production of A Christmas Carol. Sometimes  I go alone, sometimes with my husband or a friend, and sometimes I take one or more of our grandchildren.  For me, the story embodies the true meaning of Christmas which is all about loving  and giving. If I have to skip a year, I feel like something is missing from my holidays.

I made this SoulCollage® card several years ago as a way to give image to how I feel about “the holidays” and what I love about Christmas.

Do you have a favorite quote about whatever holiday you celebrate this winter?  Try making a card to express it.

Ageless Soul,
by Thomas Moore

Having just turned 61 this year, I’ve been looking for a book that would help/guide me through this sometimes scary terrain known as “aging.” This is just that book! I offer heartfelt thanks to the author for taking the time and energy to write this book because I now have a way to approach my own elderhood with grace and positive expectations. I especially enjoyed the section on “Imagining Aging Differently” and the chapter towards the end of the book called “The Angel of Old Age.” Highly recommend.

Six years ago this month (right now!) I was struggling with the knowledge that I had cancer again, for the second time, and that I was facing another long and winding road of treatments including a mastectomy and chemo.  I am posting this card here in honor of both of those “long and winding roads” I traveled through both of my cancer journeys.  It helps me to remember, when I look at this card, that yes those roads were dangerous and scary and cold and lonely, but I kept going through those wintery seasons and now I am standing in a lovelier, warmer place of vitality and creativity.

I especially love this Neter’s message for me (see below) about not looking back anymore on those difficult journeys, but focusing on where I am right now.

I am the one who has come here into this vibrantly alive, red, pink, and orange flower and am standing still in the midst of its lush beauty. 

I am the one whose road to this vibrant place was long and difficult and icy and dangerous and COLD.

I am the one who has come from a cold and wintry place to a place of warmth and color, a place of new, rich, abundant growth.

My message for you today is this- stop looking back on the cold, frightening, difficulties of your cancer journeys.  Be aware of the vitality within your life right now and look ahead to more growth and abundant life.

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When I first made this card, I was completely baffled by its possible meaning.  I just loved all the light and the door… and yes, those young monks really intrigued me!  A perfect example of making a card intuitively because you love how all the images just seem to fit together for some strange reason.

It wasn’t until I worked with this Neter and let these monks tell me their story that it made sense to me.

Who are you?

We are the ones who are young and male. We are the ones who are dressed in the orange and saffron robes of monks. We are the ones who are Monks-in-Training. We are the ones who are moving through the heavy open doors.  The doors have just been opened to us and we are moving forward.  Someone on the inside opened the doors for us and now we are continuing to open them with our own hands and strength.  We are the ones who are eager to get to the inside where the light is.

What do you have to give me?

We give you eagerness, strength to push FARTHER open some doors that have already partially opened to you. We give you the ability to accept that you also are in Training for something else.

What do you want from me?

We want you to know that it is okay to not know everything about something. It is okay to be in-training for something important. We want you to apply Beginner’s Mind to whatever you are doing next.

Is there anything else you want to say to me today?

Yes. Pay attention to any Doors in your life that have opened to you.  Continue to open them with your own curiosity and eagerness.  Follow the light- only pursue the doors where the light beckons you from the other side. You will know. Trust that you will know.